In 1923, Rebecca Talbot Perkins began the mission of what in 1927 would
become incorporated as Talbot Perkins Children's Services. This mission
was to strengthen, preserve and build families while supporting the
development of children in the New York metropolitan area. Once
incorporated, an adoption agency was established that grew, over the next
75 years, to offer foster care, adoption, foster care preventive, day
care, and international adoption services. Simply, our guiding philosophy
was based on the principle that in order to succeed, a child needs the
permanence of family. We sought to provide stability in children's lives
through strengthening the family unit. In circumstances where the birth
family was too unstable, we sought to place the child with a loving
foster or adoptive family who could meet its needs.Now, it is with a
great deal of sadness that we must inform you that after 75 years of
service to thousands of children and families in the New York City area,
Talbot Perkins Children's Services must discontinue its operation. On
December 4, 2001, the Board of Directors decided that it was no longer
possible for the agency to provide services to the hundreds of children
and families entrusted to its care. This decision to close was not made
lightly, but we needed to recognize that our finances could no longer
support the high quality of service that we believed to be
important

We know that there will be people who, in the past were adopted through
Talbot Perkins and may, in the future, wish to receive non-identifying
information about their histories. Requests for such information may be
made by contacting the New York State Department of Health, Adoption
Information Registry by calling, 518 474 9600 or 518 474 1746. The most
effective contact is probably by mail. Write to:

The Registry will give you information about the location of your records
and the procedure for requesting information from Spence Chapin Family
Services, 1923-1960 or from NYC Administration for Children's Services
(1960-2002).

To Our Supporters

We thank all of the many people who provided support to Talbot Perkins
for the past 75 years. Talbot Perkins Children's Services was highly
regarded as a service to children and families.

The voluntary Board of Directors shared their wisdom and resources to
provide guidance and policy to staff, supporting the agency's goal to
provide the highest quality of service.

The staff should be recognized for being counted among the most dedicated
of social service providers in NYC. They will long be remembered by the
children and parents served by this organization.

Our foster parents cared for the children, and many of them became
adoptive parents of children who significantly benefited from their
parenting. The children who were able to return to their families took
with them the love and caring that they received from their foster
parents, helping them to define their futures.

Many volunteers helped to enhance direct services through such activities
as tutoring and mentoring. Each child who had this advantage was forever
touched in a special way.

The many who participated in fund raising events and who generously gave
of time and money, should feel secure in knowing that 90% of all
contributions went to direct services for children and families. Your
contributions did make a difference.